The Telugu version of Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam releases today and remains unaffected by the Madras High Court order restricting the screening of the Tamil version of the movie till January 28

“The film (Vishwaroopam) will release as scheduled in Telugu (on Friday), in other parts of the country and rest of the world,” Kamal Haasan‘s agent informed.

On Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu government banned the Tamil version of the movie for two weeks when around 25 Muslim organisations objected to Kamal’s movie on the ground that it portrays their community in bad light.

Kamal challenged the ban by the state government in the court. In his plea, he contended that the movie was cleared by the censor board. Before the ban, the Tamil version was scheduled for a January 25 release. The Hindi version, titled Vishwaroop, is scheduled for a February 1 release, while the fate of the Tamil version would be decided by a high court judge after he sees the film January 26.

Made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, Vishwaroopam, which deals with the adversities of war, is produced and directed by Kamal who has also acted in it. The distribution rights of the Telugu version of the film were bought by veteran Telugu filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao.

“There is no change in the release of the Telugu version of the film. The court has only banned the Tamil version of the film in the country,” said Trinath, a Hyderabad-based trade analyst.

“The Tamil version of the film released in Malaysia on Thursday and has been receiving excellent reports,” he added informing that Muslims in that country have not opposed the film.

Earlier, Kamal wanted to premiere the film first on Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform, but later had to drop the idea after stiff opposition from theatre owners. Both versions of the film will premiere on DTH a week after its release in theatres.

Yes, you heard it right! The South superstar’s ambitious venture will now be shown to Hollywood celebrities on January 24, a day before its release here in India

The man has done what few manage or even aspire to do. After his plans to release his mega-budget project Vishwaroopam in DTH before its theatrical release hit a roadblock, Kamal Haasan has bounced back bigger and stronger. He has now taken his pet movie to the Hollywood shores, and will hold a special premiere for all the celebrities on January 24 in a theatre in Los Angeles.

After going back and forth on the dates, the multilingual film is now all set to release on January 25 in Tamil and Telugu, February 1 in Hindi and it will be shown on DTH on February 2.

Besides Kamal, the movie stars Pooja Kumar, Rahul Bose and Andrea Jeremiah in pivotal roles. The cast and crew have already left for LA on January 21. We hope Mr Haasan’s dreams come true this time around and he tastes success in India and world over. All the best Kamal!

The veteran actor may have dropped his plans to premier Vishwaroopam on DTH, but his ‘novel idea’ has been welcomed by many in the industry

Kamal Haasan was all set to release his magnum opus on DTH for the first time, but things got delayed due to protests by theatre owners.Earlier, Kushboo backed Kamal, saying that his move will result in a new revenue model for producers. Now Prakash Raj has declared his support for the Ulaga Nayagan. “We (the industry) should have allowed Kamal to experiment with the DTH premiere. It is a different idea. Opposing a proposal without testing it is not good,” he says.

Prakash Raj said Kamal wanted to ‘door deliver’ movies. “Because many people these days are not ready to travel all the way to cinema halls, Kamal came up with an idea that’s brilliant,” he added. According to recent updates, Kamal has planned to release Vishwaroopamon DTH by February 2.

The veteran actor-director has finally set a date for his magnum opus on DTH

Kamal Haasan was initially set to release Vishwaroopamon January 10 from DTH and in theaters by Janaury 11.

But several protests and discussions later, the actor has announced that the film will be telecast on DTH on February 2, exactly a week after its theatrical release on January 25. However, the actor-director, who is also the producer of the movie, dropped those plans and later decided to release the movie in cinema halls on January 25 and remained tight-lipped about the DTH relay.

Now, he has decided on the DTH issue. As per the latest decision of Kamal, Vishwaroopam will be aired on DTH platform on February 2. New rates will be fixed as against the earlier fees of Rs 1000, it is learnt. After viewing the movie in theaters we doubt, the actor can charge Rs 1000 for DTH, but that’s a decision that’s still in discussion.

We just hope there are no more fluctuations on the release date, ‘coz as fans we are seriously done waiting.

The veteran actor-director made an announcement that his film would hit the theatre screens on January 25

The movie was originally scheduled to release on January 11.

In a statement to the press, Kamal Haasan said, “Based on the unstinted support of theatre owners and distributors fraternity, Vishwaroopam will release on January 25, 2013, in not less than 500 screens across Tamil Nadu. I appreciate the exhibitors and distributors for having understood my vision of creating a new revenue stream for the film-producing community through DTH. I thank each and everyone who stood by me and all those who have extended their support and cooperation in this endeavour,” Kamal concluded.

Meanwhile, fans of Kamal Haasan, though disappointed that their favourite star’s Vishwaroopamis not hitting the screens on January 11, are happy that the Ulaga Nayagan is not dropping his plans to air the movie on the DTH platform. When it was made known on late Tuesday night that Kamal had put off the theatrical release and DTH premiere of the movie, which were scheduled for January 11 and 10 respectively, his fans and well-wishers thought that he had succumbed to pressure from theatre owners and he would permanently drop the idea to premiere the movie on DTH platform.

However, speaking to reporters at his office in Chennai on Wednesday afternoon, Kamal said that he could not be pressurised by anyone and he would go ahead with his decision to air the movie on DTH. He also warned that he would take legal action against those who tried to prevent him from going ahead with his business plans.

In a sudden turn of events, the release of Vishwaroopam, which was scheduled for January 11, has been put off. The film’s DTH premiere on January 10 has also been cancelled

According to sources, Kamal Haasan, who is also the director and producer of the movie, has bowed to pressure from theatre owners, who are opposed to his idea of airing the movie on DTH platform before its theatrical release.“Theatre owners have assured maximum number of screens for Vishwaroopam if Kamal drops his DTH premier plans. Talks are still going on and a final decision is yet to be arrived at. But what seems certain is that Vishwaroopam is not releasing this week. DTH plans have also been cancelled,” sources privy to the developments say. Meanwhile, DTH players who were taking subscriptions for Vishwaroopam premiere (Rs 1000 – Tamil version and Rs 500 – Telugu and Hindi versions) have also stopped bookings.

Tthe actor-director convened a media meet in Chennai today to present his version. “It was only because of commercial reasons I decided to delay Vishwaroopam,” Kamal said and added: “I want all the three versions (Tamil, Telugu and Hindi) to release on the same day. Also I want to give more time to people to subscribe for DTH premiere”.

Stating that some persons issued threats to him on his decision to premier the movie on DTH platform, Kamal said, “I will not succumb to any pressure. It is my product and only I should decide on it. I am doing an honest, legitimate business and I will take legal action against all those who try to prevent me from going ahead.”

Kamal however said that he would decide on premiering the movie on DTH platform on the same day of its theatrical release, as against his original plan to premier the film on DTH a day ahead of its release. “My friends in the industry have requested me to do so. I will take a decision soon. The release date will also be decided soon,” he said, expressing hope that the government and the industry would support his move. “This (DTH premiere) will result in a new business model. This will become a trend. This is not a selfish decision,” he explained.

Cineswami tells us about the changing equations and trends in the film industry and how he hopes Bollywood soon follows Mollywood

The massed ranks of the Tamil film industry, led by Rajinikanth, is observing a fast today to protest against the imposition of a 12.5 percent service tax by the central government. Meanwhile, Rajinikanth’s friend and colleague Kamal Haasan has other things to worry about. Vishwaroopam, his Rs 90 crore epic is due to release on January 11 and thanks to the star’s insistence on releasing the film on Direct To Home television services one day prior to release, theatre owners are up in arms, and, if Kamal is to be believed, literally so.

“I have been receiving threats that the film will be pirated and electricity supply to the theatres which have decided to telecast it will be suspended. Since these are against the law, I preferred to lodge a complaint with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order),” says Haasan.

Several theatre owner associations have decided not to screen Vishwaroopam, saying that their screens are otherwise engaged with new releases like Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaya and Alex Pandian and hit holdovers including Pizza, Thuppakki and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom. Kamal though insists that Vishwaroopam will be released across 390 screens. The real losers in this standoff are Kamal fans.

Meanwhile, no relationship remains sour for long in Bollywood. Anurag Kashyap had refused to direct a film for Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions not so long ago. Though there may have been some egos bruised in the process, the unthinkable has happened. The duo is coming together finally, as co-producers under Kashyap’s Phantom Films banner. The film will be Vinil Mathew’s directorial debut. Vinil is the advertising whiz kid who made the successful coffee commercial featuring Deepika Padukone and Johar. Shooting begins in April. The cast will most likely comprise newcomers, as that seems to be both Karan’s and Anurag’s trip these days.

Meanwhile Anurag’s regular cinematographer Rajeev Ravi’s directorial debut Annayum Rasoolum released on Friday to mixed reviews but full houses. The film is pretty enough to look at and boasts of many tender moments but at three hours, it’s just way too long. That doesn’t seem to be deterring the paying public who are happy paying top rupee to watch a film, or indeed any films starring relative newcomers. A leading Kerala distributor told Cineswami on condition of anonymity: “First day, first show tickets for films starring the former megastars Mohan Lal and Mamootty are freely available these days as the Kerala public is tired of them. They look old and ridiculous trying to romance heroines 40 years younger than them. People want youth and freshness and that’s why these new, independent films are working. Not everybody is a Rajinikanth, who can romance a girl less than half his age convincingly.”

The cast of the veteran actor’s Vishwaroopam doesn’t boast of big names and the filmmaker says he didn’t want stars to overshadow the film

Releasing January 11, the Tamil-Hindi bilingual will see Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah and Jaideep Ahlawat playing important roles along with Kamal and Rahul Bose.

“I didn’t have patience to work with stars in the film (Vishwaroopam). As a director, I wanted to make a film that works around the schedule and not scheduled around the work,” said Kamal, who has also directed the movie. He further added: “I am not against stars. Directors like Ramesh Sippy had patience to work with stars, I don’t have that.”

Won’t you work with stars in the future? “No, it’s not like that. The film is too big and I didn’t want stars to look bigger than the film. I am a star myself, obviously I will work with stars in the future,” he clarified.

A day before its release, DTH will showcase Vishwaroopam on PPV (Pay Per View). “It is Rs 1,000 to view in Tamil and Rs 500 to view in Hindi and Telugu. We made up our mind to go ahead with Hindi and (dubbed) Telugu much later,” said Kamal. “DTH is available out there and I didn’t invent it. I only discovered it and I am happy that people are liking this idea,” he added.

Kamal assures that Vishwaroopam is primarily a Hindi film. “I want to clarify that this is primarily a Hindi film… It is a national film.”

The veteran actor-filmmaker feels that he has had not one but several mentors who’ve inspired him over the years

Kamal Haasan screened Vishwaroopam to a few of his mentors, who praised the actor-director for his work in the movie.“Even though I consider K Balachander as my first mentor, but over the years I’ve had so many mentors such as Balu Mahendra, P Bharathiraja, Ramesh Sippy and Dasari Narayana Rao, who have always inspired me with their work,” he told reporters at the audio launch of Vishwaroopam.

“I screened the first copy of my film (Vishwaroopam) to my mentors recently. Unfortunately, Dasari sir and Balu Mahendra sir couldn’t attend it due to other commitments, but the overwhelming feedback I’ve received from KB sir and Bharathiraja was very satisfying.”

The movie is releasing on DTH platforms January 10, 2013 – a day prior to its release in theatres. Having a healthy competition and co-existing is important, says actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who is happy with the support he has received from direct-to-home (DTH) providers to release his forthcoming film Vishwaroopam. “The fact that all DTH providers have expressed interest and have come together despite stiff competition with each other to support my endeavour is testimony to the fact that one can compete and co-exist mutually,” said Kamal. “Even though Rajinikanth and I are strong competitors, we don’t take our competition home and, therefore, over the years have maintained a healthy relationship,” he added.

Vishwaroopam, a Tamil-Hindi bilingual action-thriller is written, directed and produced by Kamal and he himself is playing the lead. It also stars Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose and Shekhar Kapur in important roles.

The South actor has decided to release his movie in DTH on January 11

Theatre owners are up in arms against Kamal Haasan’s decision to air Vishwaroopam on the DTH platform a day before its theatrical release on January 11, the actor has come out with a statement, justifying his decision.A press release issued by Kamal said, “Box office collections will not be affected due to the DTH relay of Vishwaroopam. Only three per cent of Tamil Nadu’s population have a DTH connection. And only 1.5 per cent of them are expected to watch the film by paying Rs 1000,” added Kamal.

Kamal said that the film will be aired on DTH only once and it cannot be recorded by subscribers. “We have kitchen at home. But we go to hotels. We have fan and AC at home. But we go to the beach to get fresh air. Likewise people will surely come to cinema halls,” he said. So close to the release of the film, whether it was a smart move or not we will know only when the box office reports come in, no?